Monaghan Forestry Rally - 11 Jun 06

Posted: June 19, 2006 9:56 PM

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Murphy Goes well in Monaghan
Owen Murphy the Cork teenager was back in action in Monaghan after missing out on the last round of The National Forestry Championship the Moonraker because of his commitment to the Fiesta ST Challenge on the Severn Valley Rally (UK).

For the Monaghan event Owen is pleased to have a new sponsor on board Irish Aggregates who like Owen and the team travel the country however their purpose is to supply aggregate to the building trade, rather than rallying but both depend on logistics hard word and team building.

After our diff troubles on the last event special thanks must go to Wayne at AMS for rebuilding our diffs and the help given to Owen and team by O Leary Motorsport before the rally in getting them sorted.

Stage one, Owen and Garry would make a cautious approach the new diffs seemed to change the handling characteristics of the car (EVO 5) and having done the last two rally’s in the Fiesta it was back to four wheel drive so their was a bit of time needed to get the feel of things again there were a few small moments but all was coming together nicely.

By stage two Owen once again felt comfortable in the car it was doing what he wanted it to do at least it was till midpoint when the car lost 4th gear and Owen spent the rest of the stage getting used to shifting from from 3rd to 5th.
Even with the lack of a gear Owen was still setting top five times.

Stage 3 was another character building stage the car ground to a halt five times in fact on one occasion a Marshall on a down hill section began to lift the tape to let the boys cost to a halt off the stage luckily Owen managed to engage 3rd gear and struggle to the end of the stage.

At the service halt Owens crew managed to do some temporary repairs to the gear linkage. At the service halt it was decided to switch from the medium compound Yokohama tyres to a harder compound for greater stability on the hot and abrasive stages.

Stage 4 and the car now had 4 gears and it was time to make use of them Owen who still remained in the top 5 said while we are flat we are ok but this changing down is killing our times.

Stages 5 and 6: were reruns of earlier stages. The lads settled into a pace which they felt was quick but easy on the car however during these stages Owen hit a rock and suffered a puncture a mile from the end of stage 6, however they continued on to the end of the stage and changed it after the finish.

Stage seven and the lads discovered the car now had no reverse this stage would be vital there could be no mistakes as with no reverse there may be no way out also the other gears started to disappear and the boys were left with 3 forward gears and then 2 Owen and Garry struggled through to take 5th overall and second in GpN

Owen said after the event it was a trying day but we brought it home the car has great potential even if it is only an EVO 5 I have not had a clear run since Carrick on Suir with the car but it was good today when we had gears, there are some serious cars in front of us and some good ones behind us for Garry myself and the team it was a good day lets hope the next one is perfect.

Owen is supported by Yokohama Tyres, Mac Tyres Ireland ,O Flynn Construction,Irish Aggregates , Nyhan Motors Mitsubishi Dealers Bandon, O Brien Crowley Accountants , Wolfrace Wheels,Permafrost and Carnet.ie not forgetting my service crew and all who helped us the weekend.

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McCarthy/ Morrissey Take Three - Mile House Event. – Rally Report
John McCarthy/ Mikey Joe Morrissey (Corolla WRC) scored their third victory in a row on the Three Mile House based Monaghan Forest Rally. The Cork/ Waterford crew finished 20 secs clear of top seeds Kenny McKinstry/ Barry Goodman (Impreza WRC) and consolidate their lead in the “McCauley Trailers” National Forest Rally Championship - now 13 points clear of Brian McGillin/ David Doherty (N12 Impreza). “Keelagh Homes”- Property Developers from Ballyhaise returned as main sponsors for the event. Although the numbers were down on last year there was serious pedigree in the line up including a host of WRC’s (Toyota, Subaru & Ford) machines, over 20 Gp N contenders and a foray of high-powered 2WD Mk2’s charging for 2WD laurels.

McCarthy set the pace on the opening stage “Dartry” a mere 2 secs up on McKinstry setting the scene for a nip and tuck battle. Stephen Moore (Focus WRC) trailed McKinstry by two seconds in third. Local ace/ winner of the Monaghan tarmac rally, Adrian McElvaney launched his S8 Impreza on the loose holding 4th after Dartry. Owen Murphy completed the top five and led the Gp N pack with his Evo 5.

In 6th, Brian McGillin (N12 Impreza) lost time with an off road excursion. Trevor Moore tied with McGillin topping the 2WD standings with his “Mountune” powered mk2. Kevin O’Kane (Impreza WRC) held 8th, Gregg McCormack (BDA) 9th and Patsy Keenan (Evo 8) completed the top ten. Frank Kelly (mk2) slipped off dropping a minute. The Lancers of Rodney Wilton and Daniel Barry were sidelined with engine failures while Adrian Hetherington’s mk2 sheared a front hub close to the start.

The rally moved to Knockatallan for ss2 where McCarthy was again fastest (4.22) albeit by a second. McKinstry/ Moore tied on 4.23, McElvaney 4.26 and McGillin 4.27 taking the Gp N lead. Frank Kelly attacked to recover his time loss equalling Trevor Moore on 4.36. Seamus O’Connell (mk2) punctured as did many others opining that sharp stones were cutting tyres. Stage 3 (“Esh”) was fast and flowing, McKinstry had a real good go at it and was surprised to discover McCarthy was again fastest edging a further 3 secs ahead. Moore trailed by a sec with McElvaney a further 5 secs in arrears. Patsy Keenan/ Liam McLaughlin crashed out midway through “Esh” both crew were stiff and sore but there were no injuries.

At Sevice in Three Mile House GAA Grounds after ss3 John McCarthy held a 6 sec lead from Kenny McKinstry, Stephen Moore held third 3 secs back while Adrian McElvaney held 4th – 11 secs down while still adapting to the gravel. Another McElvaney in the form of previous Billy Coleman award winner Eamon McElvaney (car no. 45) held a staggering 5th overall and led Gp N with his recently acquired N10 Impreza. Brian McGillin was 2 secs in arrears, Owen Murphy held 7th despite losing 4th gear. Trevor Moore held 8th, Kevin O’Kane 9th and Viv Hamill (Evo 6) completed the top ten. Such was the heat combined with the hard dry stages that most font-runners arrived to service with their tyres in tatters and opted for harder compounds for the repeat loop.

Stage 4 - a repeat of Dartry saw McCarthy stamp his authority going 9 secs faster than his first run. McKinstry was 10 secs back and didn’t have the answer as he commended McCarthy’s pace. Moore was second fastest – 7 secs down on the Corolla, McElvaney spun his S8. Owen Murphy lost more time with his deteriorating gearbox. Frank Kelly retired with a jammed gearbox while Seamus O’Connell disappeared off the leader-board having dropped into a drain losing 2 mins. Gregg McCormack was melting off tyres with his BDA as he equalled Trevor Moore through Dartry. At service after four stages John McCarthy held a 16 sec lead, McKinstry/ Moore tied in second with McElvaney was 25 secs adrift in 4th. Brian McGillin completed the top five and regained the Gp N lead as Eamon McElvaney retired with gearbox problems.

McKinstry opted for “Hankook” tyres hoping to haul in McCarthy on the closing stages. However a 00 car had pulled aside with a puncture on ss5 changed it and got carried on. Running first on the road McKinstry caught the 00 and was held in his dust for the rest of the stage losing valuable time. McCarthy had a clean run, set FTD and was now over 30 secs ahead. Stephen Moore/ Tony McHugh seemed to be getting to grips with their Focus but were a little too quick over a crest, slipped off into the scenery ending their rally and possibly their title bid. Kenny was impressed by the Hankook’s as his time showed for ss6 where he set his first FTD of the day, 2 secs up on the Cork man’s Corolla.

The final stage was a revised version of the Dartry complex. While McCarthy held a 35 sec advantage, McKinstry’s stage 5 time was under review so it was down to the wire. The Banbridge man pushed his S8 to the limit where as McCarthy took no chances. McKinstry was 15 secs faster than McCarthy – with 20 secs separating the two McKinstry’s time on ss5 was critical to the result.

After lengthy deliberation the organisers published results, McKinstry’s time applied for ss5 and the crew accepted their fate. John McCarthy/ Mikey Joe Morrissey were declared the winners in their “Kumho” shod Corolla WRC. Kenny McKinstry/ Barry Goodman took second and look forward to another race with McCarthy/ Morrissey. Local pair; Adrian McElvaney/ Paul Goodman completed the podium and hope to contest some more gravel events this year. Brian McGillin/ David Doherty finished fourth, clinched Gp N (class 8) and are up to second overall in the Championship. Fifth placed Owen Murphy/ Gary Nolan nursed their Evo to the finish. Kevin O’Kane/ Martin Brady had a steady run to sixth, Connor McCloskey/ Andrew Purcell (Evo 8) took 7th, Justin Dunne/ Alan Dolan (Evo 6) 8th, Trevor Moore/ Glen Campbell (mk2) 9th, “Best 2WD” and class five honours and Donegal’s Kevin Duggan/ Keith Bovaird (Evo 6) completed the top ten.

Tipperary’s Andrew Fanning/ Alan McCormack powered their Ka to class 1 honours. Local pairing, Trevor Farrell/ Janice Mackeral (1600 Escort) took class 2 honours. Conor Kelly/ Noel Hall held over a minute of a class three winning margin with their Sunny. Danny McEvoy/ Michael Walsh (G3) took class four spoils while Conor Kelly/ Denis (Nova) again blitzed the Junior category (class 9) and now hold a 2-point Championship lead. The event went well, superb weather made an enjoyable day for all concerned and the revised stages kept things interesting. Well done to CoC Damien Hagan and his team for a successful rally.

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Results
1 John McCarthy/Mick Morrissey (Toyota Corolla WRC) 39m 57s,
2 Kenny McKinstry/Barry Goodman (Subaru Impreza WRC) 40m 17s,
3 Adrian McElvaney/Paul Goodman (Subaru Impreza WRC) 40m 56s,
4 Brian McGillin/David Doherty (Subaru Impreza N12) GpN 41m 30s,
5 Owen Murphy/Gary Nolan (Mit. Lancer Evo 5) GpN 41m 58s,
6 Kevin O’Kane/Martin Brady (Subaru Impreza WRC) 42m 18s,
7 Connor McCloskey/Andrew Purcell (Mit. Lancer Evo 8) GpN 42m 28s,
8 Justin Dunne/Alan Dolan (Mit. Lancer Evo 6) GpN 42m 44s,
9 Trevor Moore/Glen Campbell (Escort 2.0) 42m 52s,
10 Kevin Duggan/Keith Bovaird (Mit. Lancer Evo 6) GpN 42m 59s.
Leaders After:
SS1-7 John McCarthy/Mick Morrissey (Toyota Corolla WRC)

Stage Winners
SS1 John McCarthy/Mick Morrissey (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS2 John McCarthy/Mick Morrissey (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS3 John McCarthy/Mick Morrissey (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS4 John McCarthy/Mick Morrissey (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS5 John McCarthy/Mick Morrissey (Toyota Corolla WRC)
SS6 Kenny McKinstry/Barry Goodman (Subaru Impreza WRC)
SS7 Kenny McKinstry/Barry Goodman (Subaru Impreza WRC)

• Download Results and Stagetimes in Excel Format

Monaghan Motor Club

• 2006 Forestry Championship

Photos
John Bayly (www.rallyfile.com)
NG Motorsport Images
Stephen Carson Photography

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PRE EVENT NEWS

• Time and Distance Schedule
• McElvaney to use S8, O'Connell to use "Blue" Mk II
• Event Preview
• Entry List
• Regulations available

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09/06/06

• Download Time and Distance Schedule in Excel Format

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Adrian McElvaney is using his S8 car in the woods for the first time this weekend.

Seamus O'Connell has converted his (Blue) "tarmac" car to forestry spec for this weekends rally as the BDA is not ready.

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Event Preview

Co. Monaghan Motor Club host the 5th Round of the 2006 “McCauley Trailers” National Forest Rally Championship this Sunday 11th June. The event is based at Sean McDermott’s GAA Club, Three mile House with Rally HQ, scrutiny/ documentation, start/ finish and service all within the GAA Grounds. The event consists of 7 stages (3 done twice and a final stage incorporating 2 forests) with centralised service after stages 1, 3, 4 and 6. COC; Damien Hagan has revised the stages from previous years, while using the same locations all stages have been reworked.

This is the third running of the Monaghan Forest Rally and will hopefully enjoy more favourable weather than last year - a fact that seems to have affected entries. While the quantity of entries has reduced the quality is superb. All the “McCauley Trailers” Championship regulars are listed; John McCarthy, Stephen Moore, Brian McGillin and Owen Murphy will bid for victory but will have to fend off Kenny McKinstry and Adrian McElvaney in their respective Subaru’s. The 2WD line up promises a battle royale between Trevor Moore, Frank Kelly, Seamus O’Connell, Adrian Hetherington, Greg McCormack, John Reid and Vivian Hamill with their high-powered Escorts roaring through the forests.

Top seed Kenny McKinstry (Impreza WRC) has had mixed fortune this year winning Carrick on Suir and retiring on stage one in Wicklow with mechanical woes. The Banbridge man hopes to return to winning ways on Sunday. Championship leaders John McCarthy/ Mickey Joe Morrissey (Corolla WRC) are second on the road and have the experience of last year on their side. Stephen Moore/ Tony McHugh (Focus WRC) third on the road, trail McCarthy/ Morrissey by 6-points in the overall standings. Brian McGillin/ David Doherty are at 4 and first Gp N on the road with their N12 Impreza. Completing the top five Local man Adrian McElvaney returns to the woods with a Subaru, most likely his Gp A Impreza 555.

Number six, Owen Murphy/ Gary Nolan (Evo 5) return having missed the Moonraker. Kevin O’Kane/ Martin Brady (Impreza WRC) are at seven. Last year’s Gp N winner Rodney Wilton has entered with a hired Evo and is seeded at 8 followed by Daniel Barry/ Mark Bowens (Evo 7). Trevor Moore completes the top ten and should be spectacular with his “Mountune” powered Mk2. Outside the top ten a variety of Evo’s in the hands of; Conor McCloskey, Justin Dunne, Kevin Duggan, Patsy Keenan, Michael Tynan and Emma McKinstry are capable of featuring in the Gp N hunt.

Championship regulars travelling up country for a change include; Danny McEvoy, Ray Benskin, Moss Fitzgerald, Sean Benskin, Mick Nevin, Paul Fitzgerald, Pat Curran, Kevin Hickey, Richard Nugent, Conor Kelly and Jonny Kenneally all hoping to bring home valued championship points.

The first car starts from the GAA Grounds at 9:30 on Sunday morning with the opening stage near Rockcorry followed by service. The event moves North to Golan Forest complex for a loop of stages with service again in Three Mile House, this loop is repeated before another service. The final stage is in the vast Knockatallan forest complex. The first cars are due back at HQ for a champagne reception at 18:30.

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Entry List:

Car No Name (Car)
1 Kenny McKinstry / TBA (Subaru Impreza WRC )
2 John McCarthy / M J Morrissey (Toyota Corolla WRC)
3 Stephen Moore / Tony McHugh (Ford Focus WRC)
4 Brian McGillin / David Doherty (Subaru Impreza N12)
5 Adrian McElvaney / Paul Goodman (Subaru Impreza WRC )
6 Owen Murphy / Gary Nolan (Mit. Lancer Evo 5)
7 Kevin O'Kane / Martin Brady (Subaru Impreza WRC )
8 Rodney Wilton / TBA (Mit. Lancer Evo)
9 Daniel Barry / Mark Bowns (Evo 7)
10 Trevor Moore / Glen Campbell (Escort Mk II)
11 Frank Kelly / Liam Breenan (Escort Mk II)
12 Seamus O'Connell / Brian Duggan (Escort 2.4 MkII)
14 Adrian Hetherington / Terry Walkingshaw (Escort Mk II)
15 Greg McCormack / Ian Kidd (Escort Mk II)
16 Conor McCluskey / TBA (Mit. Lancer Evo)
17 Justin Dunne / TBA (Evo 6)
18 Kevin Duggan / Keith Bovaird (Evo 6)
19 Mark Hamilton / TBA (Subaru)
20 Robert Moffett / Sam Moffett (Evo 6)
21 Viv Hamill / Paul Hamill (Evo 5)
22 Patsy Keenan / Liam McLaughlin (Evo 8)
23 Andrew Mackarel / Richard Cassidy (Evo 4)
24 Michael Tynan / Colin Brady (Evo 5)
25 Connie Smith / Breen McNamee (Sierra)
26 Emma McKinstry / TBA ()
27 Martin Brady / Colm Brady (Escort)
28 John Reid / Enda Shields (Escort)
29 Paul McCarroll / TBA (Escort)
30 Conor Kelly / Noel Hall (Sunny)
31 Moss Fitzgerald / TBA (Corolla)
32 Mickey McGillin / Sean Hayde (Escort)
33 Trevor Farrell / Janice Mackarel (Escort)
34 Sean Heaney / Michael McElwee (Evo 6)
35 Danny McEvoy / Michael Walsh (Escort)
36 Shane Cullen / Adrian Donelly (Escort)
37 Ray Benskin / Peadar Walsh (Escort)
38 Michael Nevin / MartinFlynn (Escort)
39 Pat Price / Seamus O'Connor (Evo 6)
40 Stephen Cullen / Edward Roche (Subaru)
41 John Gerard Hughes / Anthony Gallagher (Escort)
42 Cathal McGlone / David Smyth (Subaru)
43 Shane McGeary / TBA (Evo 6)
44 Enda McNulty / TBA (Evo 6)
45 Eamon McElvaney / Alan Keena (Subaru)
46 Jim McKenna / Tomas Treanor (Starlet)
47 Gerry Cassidy / Paul Sheridan (Escort)
48 Martin Tynan / Ciaran Tynan (Corsa)
49 Paul Fitzgerald / Ger Fahy (Escort)
50 Kevin Hickey / Eugene McGrath (Escort)
51 Pat Curran / Kevin Barry (Escort)
52 Paddy McVeigh / Aidan Campbell (Escort)
53 Sean William Benskin / Denis O'Leary (Escort)
54 Darrel Quinn / Stephen McKenna (Escort)
55 Richie Nugent / Bobby Nugent (Escort)
56 Bosco McGorman / Leon McGorman (Escort)
57 Tony Dickinson / Gavin Heseltine (Escort)
58 Conor Kelly / David Ryan (Corsa)
59 David Donoghue / Martin Costello (Peugeot 205)
60 Raymond Conlon / Adrian Treanor (Sunbeam)
61 Joe Conway / TBA (Escort)
62 Kevin O'Hare / Declan Smith (Corolla)
63 Mark Slowey / Celina McAree (Escort)
64 Ian Roche / Liam O'Connor (Peugeot 206)
65 Andrew Fanning / Alan mcCormack (Ka)
66 Damien Sherry / Stephen Hagan (Corolla)
67 David Wright / Stephen Wright (Corsa)
68 Johnny Kenneally / Ken Carmody (Escort)
69 David Sinnamon / TBA (Escort)
70 Sean McCaffrey / Emmet Sherry (Corsa)

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Regulations and Entry Form on:

Monaghan Motor Club

• 2006 Forestry Championship